In his must-read Monday morning column on his website, theMMQB.com, King types that he can hear the 24 countdown clock ticking on Bowers’ career all the way from One Buc Palace.

9. I think when word leaks out of spring practices that a player is not in top shape, the translation is: The guy’s been dogging it this off-season, and this is his warning. That’s what I thought when the Bucs sent word that Da’Quan Bowers, a second-round pick three years ago, wasn’t in good shape at team activities last week. Bowers has played just 1,009 snaps in a disappointing three-year career so far. This has to be his do-or-die season in Tampa.

Again, Bowers in on his third coaching staff since being drafted. And Lovie is a no-nonsense coach. If he isn’t going to tolerate a wide receiver having a mattress in his front yard, he surely isn’t going to tolerate a defensive end out of shape, especially a player he didn’t select.

Now to be fair, Bowers is coming off knee surgery of some sort. But it feels like Bucs coaches think he should be much further along.

Joe will never forget the sight of Bowers on one knee sucking air last year in training camp after being handed a starting job, after former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik let sack leader Michael Bennett walk away for no good reason. Bowers’ lack of shape did not sit well with then-Bucs commander Greg Schiano.

I think if Bowers had not been drafted but rather a walk-on, he would no-longer be in the league. Sadly, this happens every year. Some guys with what may appear as high risk, high reward potential talent who possess no drive and their hearts not really in it, or just friggin lazy, are drafted over walk-ons who work their butts off and show daily improvement and drive, never make the 53 man roster, whilst the drafted player gets a pass year after year, because GM’s and HC’s are afraid to admit that they made a mistake, or they dread the negative bust labels on their resumes.

This is probably unfair to look at one tweet and suggest that is where Bowers’ priorities are but he’s under scrutiny now these are the types of things that will be singled whether fair or not.

Jun 5 was the last day of voluntary OTAs and he has every right to go out and have fun like everyone else. I wish Bowers the best, but he has to know that this might be his last chance with the Bucs. It might serve his best interest to show that he’s doing everything possible to get into shape. If it appears that he is not taking it seriously, he’s probably going to hurt his chances of making it. Good luck Da’Quan!

I pointed out on your last article that after knee surgery he had a good excuse for being out of shape and he still might become the elite DE we thought we drafted. It just makes me sick to hear he is not in shape this year. A GM can look bad when they draft good players who turn out to not have heart and look good when they take a flier on a marginal player and he has the heart of a lion.
I feel like we keep rolling craps over and over. It has got to end someday. Mabey Hardy will grab Da’Quan by the ear and staighten him out. We can only hope.

Since it is the final year of his contract, and he is going to be a FA, Bowers should have been HIGHLY motivated to have a career year to get PAID! What a waste. This is where the saying comes from of “youth is wasted on the young”. Bowers needs to get his application into McD’s quickly. He is likely to need a summer job.

Smokescreen!
Bowers and Nick’s are actually in impeccable shape and are ready to go, as they have been training secretly indoors all along. Lovie will be unleashing both of them during the season opener!

Anybody who wants to see why Schiano will never be a leader of men, other than perhaps post pubescent college kids just out of high school, should read a great book I’ve just finished.

Phil Jackson’s book is called 11 Rings for the obvious reason. This is a man who was able to harness incredible egos like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaq, Dennis Rodman and on and on. He did not accomplish his incredible run of championships with even a hint of “toes on the line”.

He believed in empowering his players and trying to get them to become one unit and believe in each other. Great read btw for almost any of life’s pursuits. I’ve benefitted from Jackson’s advice at work. If you manage people this is a great read. Sorry to bring the NBA to an NFL blog but my point is about coaches not a specific sport.

Just go on youtube. Bowers is much more interested in gospel music than he is football. I can’t that us season ticket holders pay this guys salary and he comes to camp out of shape! We want a championship! We are not going to get it by paying people who care more about other things than football.

This problem is a disease with our team. I can think of five players off the top of my head who got paid big money only to abandon football for other interests. WTF is going on?

“He is likely to need a summer job.” That’s some excellent snark Harry and I agree with you he probably won’t be in the NFL much longer. But he won’t need a summer job and that’s part of the problem in pro sports.

The contracts are so huge that the first payday can set a fellow for life. Bowers was set for life the minute he inked his deal. Unless he blows it all on bling and swag and hot chicks. Since he’s deep into his gospel roots I believe he is a quality guy if not a quality football player. He’ll be fine as will the Bucs after they let him go.